Shirgaon Jatra

                                          Shirgaon Jatra

By Shambhavi Parsekar

The Shirgaon jatra of Lairai deity, in Bicholim taluka is one of the main Jatras of Goa that attracts thousands of devotees from Goa, Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra and Belgaum in Karnataka. During kaulotsav, the kalash of the deity is taken out from the temple in a procession for a house-to-house visit. The villagers perform pooja and seek the deity’s blessings.This famous Jatra is celebrated on Shudh Panchami day of Vaishakh Hindu calendar month. The main feature of this Jatra is the “ Agnidivya” which is performed by thousands of vratasth devotees (locally known as Dhonds). This Agnidivya is performed by dhonds walking through burning coals chanting Har, har Mahadev, Shri Lairai Mata ki Jai.

The original small historic temple is located on the top of the hillock at Shirgaon known as Mudderh. The main responsibility of this Jatra is shouldered by Vratsth Dhond Sevekar Mandali who is known as Chowgule. These persons go on special Jatra for 10 days since Duwadashi tithi of Hindu month Chaitra Vadya Pakha.Legend has it that Shri Lairai deity has six other sisters including Milagres Devi, Morjekarin at Morjim, Shri Santeri at Mayem, Shri Kelbai Devi at Mulgaon and two others and one brother Khetoba whose temple situated at Mayem. The Outis from her sisters place and brother Khetoba are offered to Lairai on the day of Jatra.The Jatra begins with various religious rituals in the temple. The devotees visit the place in the morning to take darshan of Lairai, offer flowers and prayers for seeking her blessings.

The Dhonds wear special clothes with Kad and a towel. The Vratasth dhonds from different places all over Goa reach Shirgaon by afternoon. They take a dip in the holy lake at Shirgaon. They then visit the temple take out five pradakshinas around the temple. The firewood is piled in a big heap under a sacred Peepal tree.The dhonds perform pooja of the sacred wood and then return to the lake for a bath. They take darshan of Lairai at Mudderh and then follow other religious traditions.The whole village of Shirgaon wears a new look. The houses are painted, decorated with lights, done up mandaps in front of every house and Kamanis erected at the entrance of Shirgaon village and at the temple place.The fair is another feature of this Jatra. The shops, stalls are erected on either sides of the roads. The flower sellers, soft drink restaurants, toys shops, sweet shops etc make a brisk business on the Jatra day.

The devotees offer their prayers and seek the deity’s blessings. Another feature of this deity according to the devotees is that it is a Jagrut devi who attends the urging call of her devotees at time of danger to life or at time of difficulty, crisis, etc. The devotees pray to her that they would perform Agnidivya if she saves them from any danger. So most of the devotees make it a point at any cost to attend the Jatra and offer prayers to seek her blessings.The police personnel have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth celebration of the festival. Besides, proper traffic system has also been planned.